Moto2 Austria: Zarco dominates for back-to-back wins

Johann Zarco hit the front and pulled away for a dominant fifth win of the season in the Austrian Moto2 Grand Prix at the Red Bull Ring.

Johann Zarco put Spielberg under his spell as he dominated the closing laps of the Moto2 Austrian Grand Prix for back-to-back victories spanning the summer gap.

Ajo Motorsport's pole man lost the lead as Franco Morbidelli dominated the opening laps, but with just nine laps remaining Zarco made his move after being faster sat behind his rival on the previous lap.

The reigning champion then pulled away, a masterclass in racing handed out to his rivals as he extended his lead lap after lap, finishing over three seconds ahead and increasing his championship lead slightly to 34 points, before wheeling out a now customary backflip - this time in lederhosen.

The battle for second unfolded behind with Estrella Galicia 0,0 Marc VDS rider locked in battle with Tom Luthi, the Swiss man initially holding the advantage after moving into second for Interwetten to attempt to catch Zarco.

The pair tangled running wide and glancing the gravel and bringing Alex Marquez into play. Morbidelli made his pass on Luthi stick for second - a best result for the Italian, with Rins following him through for the final podium place.

Luthi found himself out wide in the red part of the track limits and fourth at the flag.

Marcel Schrotter was the last of the leaders to see the chequered, a little disappointed to finish fifth for AGR Team after leading briefly, though it his best Moto2 finish.

Alex Marquez was a s high as second before fading to a distant fifth on the second Marc VDS entry, holding off Idemitsu's Taka Nakagami who finished the day seventh.

The Japanese rider was a second ahead of eighth place man Lorenzo Baldassarri for Forward, who was in turn about the same distance from Axel Pons in ninth for AGR Team. Dominique Aegerter held tenth for most of the race and finished there for Interwetten.

Sandro Cortese fought up to eleventh for Dynavolt Intact Gp, ahead of Britain's Danny Kent who recovered a tough weekend for twelfth for Leopard. His team-mate Miguel Oliveira was back to being th top Moto2 rookie in 13th, with the pair split by Itlatrans rider Mattia Pasini.

Julian Simon secured the final point on offer in 15ht for QMMF Racing.

Jonas Folger was the first to crash, after just three laps for Dynavolt Incact GP, with Sam Lowes lasting just one lap longer before finding the gravel, both rejoined but while Folger rolled around in last Lowes crashed again at the same corner, turn nine as his handlebar snapped.